Netflix Series On Kandahar Hijack 'Vile Attempt To Rewrite History': PIL In SC Seeks OTT Regulation

A PIL has been filed in the Supreme Court terming the Netflix series 'IC 814:The Kandahar Hijack' a vile attempt to rewrite history, downplay the terror inflicted by the actual hijackers, and subtly glorify their actions.

The PIL in Supreme Court said that series reduced the tragedy of IC 814 to a farcical narrative and tried to promote the insidious agenda

Source : Netflix

A PIL has been filed in the Supreme Court terming the Netflix series 'IC 814:The Kandahar Hijack' a vile attempt to rewrite history, downplay the terror inflicted by the actual hijackers, and subtly glorify their actions. Stating the example of the Netflix series, the PIL has sought a direction from the top court to Centre to set up an autonomous body to monitor, filter and regulate content on over-the-top (OTT) and other platforms in India. 

The PIL stated that the series was advertised as a real-life incident, but what it shows is a vile attempt to rewrite history, downplay the terror inflicted by the actual hijackers, and subtly glorify their actions. It further added that the series reduced the tragedy of IC 814 to a farcical narrative and tried to promote the insidious agenda that seeks to whitewash the brutality of terrorism and vilify the Hindu community, the PTI reported.

Referring to the Netflix series, the PIL has highlighted the need for such a regulatory mechanism.

The PIL states that the Central Board of Film Certification (CBFC) is a statutory body tasked with regulating public exhibition of films under the Cinematograph Act. However, no such body is there to monitor/regulate the OTT contents and they are only bound by the self-regulations which are not compiled properly and the controversial contents are shown to the public at large without any checks and balances, the PIL said.

This is not the first time such a PIL has been filed in the top court. In April, the top court had heard a similar PIL that sought regulation of OTT content.

However, the Supreme Court bench Justices BR Gavai and Sandeep Mehta had permitted withdrawal of a plea seeking regulation of inappropriate content on over-the-top (OTT) platforms, while granting liberty to the petitioners to make a representation to the Centre in April.

The PIL had challenged the publication of "inappropriate content" on OTT platforms like Netflix, Amazon Prime, etc.

The order came after Justice Gavai suggested that the petitioner first make a representation to the government. Following which, the counsel appearing for the petitioner sought permission to make appropriate representation and come back.